Gyeongsangnam-do(Hadong-gun)

Located on the southern part of Jirisan Mountain, Ssanggyesa Temple and Hwaeomsa Temple are among the most popular temples in the Jirisan area. Constructed by Sambeob who was a disciple of Euisang in the 23rd year of King Seongdeok’s reign during the Silla Era, it was called Okcheonsa Temple at first. Then, the Buddhist Monk, Jingam changed its name to Ssanggyesa Temple after having seeded around the temple with tea from China. The temple was burnt down during the Japanese Invasion, Imjinwaeran (1592-1598) and later rebuilt.The best time to visit this area is spring, as the 6km path from Hwagye market place to Ssanggyesa Temple is filled with blooming 600-year-old cherry blossom trees. With the myth that lovers who walk together along the cherry blossom tree path, it is also called Hollaegil (wedding path). A 40-50 minute walk along the tree-lined path leads to Ssanggyesa Temple.Across the bridge in front of the ticket office, there are two rocks engraved with the words “ssanggye” and “seokmun” each. It is said that the eminent scholar Choi Chiwon of the Silla Era had engraved the words with a cane. In the middle of the temple, one of the foremost Korean epigraphs “Jingamseonsa-daegongtabbi” is situated in front of the main building Daeunggeun. This was also written by Choi Chiwon. To the east you can find the Ssanggyesa Ma-aebul, a unique image of Buddha engraved in a hollowed out section of rock.In addition, Palyeongru is the cradle of Korean style Beompae (Buddhist music), which was initiated by the Priest Jimgam (774-850) who studied the Buddhist music in China. As Jingam composed the piece Eosan (fish mountain) by watching the fish of Seomjingang River with Paleumryul (eight tones and rhythms), this place is named Palyeongru.During the third year of King Heugdeok’s reign during the Silla Era, Kim Daeryeom visited China and brought seeds for tea trees. By royal order, he planted the seeds around Ssanggyesa Temple and this area became the first place to cultivate tea.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Located inside Changdeokgung Palace, Huijeongdang Hall is a one-storey structure built in ikgong style (bird wing-shaped eaves placed on top of the pillars) with a hip tiled gable roof. It has 11 kans in the front and 4 kans to the sides (kan: a traditional unit of measurement referring to the space between two columns that is roughly 6 to 8 feet). During the latter period of the Joseon Dynasty, the hall was used as the king’s workplace. It is situated right in front of the palace’s residential hall called Daejojeon Hall. Originally built upon the foundation of Changdeokgung Palace, Huijeongdang Hall was destroyed by multiple fires during the battles of the Imjin War (Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592). It was rebuilt in 1834 but was burnt down again in 1917. The current structure is the one reconstructed in 1920. The frequent destruction and restoration of the hall account for the many changes that occurred in terms of the size and purpose of the building. The 9 kans in the front and 3 kans on the sides have been decorated into a living room with a Korean-style reception room on the left and a western-style reception room on the right. The rest of the building was used as hallways and other small rooms such as bathroom and cubicles. The hall's interior is decorated with foreign-made furniture as a result of the western influences at the time. The electricity installed in and outside the rooms is a change that took place during the last phase of the Korean empire. The original structure, however, had been strictly constructed according to the original palace building standards.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Samcheongdong・The Northern Part of the Seoul

Bukchon, literally translated to northern village, refers to the neighborhood located north of Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. The southern land of Jongno, which is present day Namsan, was referred as Namchon, meaning southern village. Bukchon Village was resided mostly by relatives of royal families and powerful authorities while Namchon Village was settled by middle class government officials during the Joseon period. Now referred to as the Bukchon Hanok Village, the neighborhood has become one of Korea's most representative tourist attractions that provide various photo ops. Visitors can take in the outlook of Seoul together with traditional hanok buildings by following the course for the Eight Scenic Views of Bukchon. [Eight Scenic Views of Bukchon] Scenic View 1 - View of Chengdeokgung Palace over the stonewall. Scenic View 2 - View of Wonseo-dong Handicraft Road Scenic View 3 - View of hanok at Gahoe-dong 11-bunji area Scenic View 4 - View of Gahoe-dong 31-bunji from the hilltop Scenic View 5 - View of Gahoe-dong alley (downhill) Scenic View 6 - View of Gahoe-dong alley (uphill) Scenic View 7 - View of Gahoe-dong 31-bunji alleyway Scenic View 8 - View from the Samcheong-dong stone stairway


Seoul(Gangseo-gu) , The Western Part of the Seoul

When the fate of the nation was hanging by a thread as the North Korean Army launched an invasion of the South on June 25, 1950, about 1,100 officers and men from the South Korean First Division's 11th, 12th, and 15th regiment retreated to Gimpo and built the last line of defense on Gaehwasan Mountain from June 26 to 30 to fight against a large army of North Korean soldiers disguised as South Korean men.Unfortunately, their communication with the headquarters was cut off and their supply of ammunition and food ran out. As a result, the entire South Korean force was killed by the much larger North Korean army in a valley around Gaehwasan Mountain. In order to commemorate those who died for the country, the government established the Memorial to the Loyal Dead on Gaehwasan Mountain in 1994. A memorial service is also held here annualy on June 28th.x_height: 4.7 meters highBuilt by the First Division of the ROK Army, Mitasa Temple


Gyeongsangbuk-do(Goryeong-gun)

Daegaya Museum is an exhibition of history and culture of the Daegaya (The Great Gaya; 42-562 AD) Kingdom. The Museum consists of the Daegaya History Pavilion and the Daegaya Royal Tomb Pavilion. The History Pavilion houses a collection of relics from the Daegaya Kingdom era, while holding special exhibitions and education activities periodically. The outdoor exhibition center displays items that represent ancient lifestyle such as dugouts, attic storage, iron furnace, as well as religious relics. The Royal Tomb Pavilion is a 37m-wide dome that houses relics of the Jisandong Ancient Tombs. It is essentially the restoration of the Jisandong Tumulus No. 44, the first large-scale sunjang (burial of the living with the dead).


Gyeonggi-do(Gwangmyeong-si)

Gwangmyeong Station is a KTX train station in Iljik-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It was originally built solely as a departure and arrival station for KTX but now additionally serves as a departure and arrival station for the KTX Gyeongbu Line. Gwangmyeong Station is some distance from the center of the city but the number of visitors using the station is steadily increasing as the station began to serve as a stop for trains bound to Pohang Station and trains on the Honam Express Line.


Jeollabuk-do(Jeonju-si)

Located about 1 kilometer away from Deokjun Park in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, the zoo is equipped with not only diverse animals and plants, but also a field for soccer, a valleyball court and many other sports facilities. In addition to their leisure grounds, the amusement park 'DreamLand' is found to the eastside of the zoo. Opened on June 10, 1978, the zoo houses visitors' all time favorites like tigers, lions, giraffes, hippos, cows, rhinos, camels and more exotic animals, coming to a total of 670 animals made up of 106 different species.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Two hundred meters upstream from Dodamsambong Peaks is a large rainbow-shaped stone gate on the left side of the river. This oddly-shaped stone arch is called Seongmun. With its fascinating scenery, Seongmun is the second of Danyang’s Eight Scenic Wonders. To the left of the stone gate is a small cave. Inside the cave is Okdap (Stone Field), which is believed to have been cultivated by an old enchantress. The legend of Okdap says that an old enchantress who lived in heaven once came to the earth to get water and then dropped her hairpin, just near the stone gate. She looked for the hairpin but was extremely impressed by the beautiful views. She gave up heaven and lived near the Stone Gate as an ordinary peasant for the rest of her life.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Suyanggae Prehistory Museum boasts itself as the largest prehistoric site in Korea. The museum contains a multitude of remains, especially stone toolkits, of the late Stone Age and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The stone toolkits were discovered by a museum of Chungbuk National University while the team was on the project to excavate historical remains around the site that were submerged due to the construction of Chungju Dam. The museum provides detailed explanations and maps marked for the prehistorical sites in Danyang. Visitors can learn the life and wisdom of Paleolithic man in the museum.